I don't stray much to begin with, but it really takes discipline to repeat 1 bar over & over without any variation!

This is indeed the hardest thing for me to do. Maybe it depends on your musical background, but I spent so much of my formative years trying NOT to repeat myself that doing something extremely repetitive is almost physically uncomfortable for me. But I've made it a priority to get better at it over the past few years with good results.

Bermuda, I was wondering: do you guys get any assistance from the parodied artists or their production team with regard to sheet music, arrangement or production tips or do you have to figure it all out like the rest of us (try to) do?

Bermuda, I was wondering: do you guys get any assistance from the parodied artists or their production team with regard to sheet music, arrangement or production tips or do you have to figure it all out like the rest of us (try to) do?

We're on our own for parts and sounds, with only two exceptions: there was a track 20+ years ago that was basically donated by the writer/producer, and another on the new album where I nabbed one sample from the band. That wasn't out of desperation, it was just really wanting to get the sound right.